A College Student's First Trip to Disney: A Complete Guide for Under CNY 1,000
A College Student's First Trip to Disney: A Complete Guide for Under CNY 1,000
Hey guys, here's a guide for your first trip to Shanghai Disney! It's perfect for first-timers! From the moment you enter the park, you'll want to make the most of every minute!
💸 Cost Breakdown
Here's a breakdown of the costs: round-trip flights from Wenzhou cost CNY 500, student tickets cost CNY 284, and two nights' accommodation cost CNY 180 (I highly recommend staying in a homestay). In total, I spent CNY 964.
🎒 Must-Haves for Entering the Park
Don't forget to bring your ID card, student ID, raincoat, headband, snacks, power bank, and the official Disney app. They're all important!
⏰ Time-Saving Tips (Enter the Park at 8:30 am)
Here's a little secret about Disney: there's a no-bag line! A lot of people don't know about it and carry a bag. You can bring a foldable canvas bag or a transparent plastic bag and carry the items you want to bring into the park in your hand. Once you're in the park, you can put your things in your bag. This trick can save you an hour and a half, and you don't even need to buy an early access card! Isn't that great?
🎢 Recommended Order of Rides
First, go on the TRON Lightcycle Power Run (the wait is about 20 minutes), then go on Roaring Rapids (about 20 minutes), then Soaring Over the Horizon (the wait is about 105 minutes), and then Pirates of the Caribbean (40 minutes). By the time you're done, it'll be almost noon. You can find a place to rest and take some photos. (I didn't rest well before, so I was a little tired by this point. If you still have energy, you can go on some nearby rides that interest you.) Be sure to keep track of the time because the parade starts at 3:30 pm. A lot of people get there 50 minutes early to get a good spot and sit on the ground to wait for the parade to pass by. After the parade, you can go on the carousel (the wait is about 20 minutes). It's a great place to take photos!
📷 Photography Tips
Around 4 pm, the light becomes very soft, which is perfect for taking photos. You don't need to take photos in front of the castle. If you take photos on the bridge, you can avoid a lot of people. Otherwise, there will be a lot of people in your photos.
🎆 Fireworks Show Tips
One day, my friend and I were lucky enough to see people getting seats for the fireworks show. Around 5:30 pm, we were a little tired, so we got a good spot to watch the fireworks. (If you don't want to get a seat so early, you can go on some rides because there will be fewer people in line.) The 5th anniversary fireworks show was amazing! It was so beautiful and impressive!
🎉 After the Park
The fireworks show ends around 9:30 pm. If you still have energy, you can go to Disneytown. I went straight back to the homestay because my feet were covered in blisters and I couldn't walk anymore.
Finally, I hope you all have a magical time at Disney! Have fun, take beautiful photos, and spend time with your loved ones! 💕